Meaning & use

dramatic

adjective·Everyday

Striking, sudden, or intense in a way that draws strong attention or emotion.

See it in a sentence

The team made a dramatic comeback, scoring three goals in the final ten minutes.

Turning off all the lights had a dramatic effect on the room's atmosphere.

A note on using this word

Calling a person 'dramatic' informally suggests they exaggerate emotions or reactions more than the situation calls for.

Words with a similar meaning

strikingtheatricalintense

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Another way to use it

2. adjective

Relating to plays, theater, or the performing arts.

She studied dramatic literature at university, focusing on plays from the twentieth century.

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